Social Values

Social Values Statement

We, the Elders and Pastors of Grace Baptist Church, believe all people are 1) created by God for his glory and 2) are most satisfied when he is most glorified. Further, we recognize our responsibility to lead our church family according to the truth of God’s Word. Lastly, and most importantly, we are committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ by which every heart can be purified, every sin forgiven, and every life transformed into one of beauty, peace, and eternal life.

We recognize many current social issues are complex and pose a challenge to individuals and to the church. This is a broken world where the deceitfulness of sin with its promised pleasures can too easily lure people into compromised thinking and destructive behavior.

We recognize that some in our family may bear scars from past decisions and actions. We also strongly believe and teach that no behavior lies outside the forgiving grace of Jesus Christ for those who acknowledge and turn from their sin. We also believe that recognizing and resisting temptation in the first place is greatly preferable.

While we intend for Grace Baptist Church to be a safe place for ongoing growth and discussion, we affirm the following convictions concerning the social issues of our day so that all who attend our church will know where we stand and what we will teach on the various subjects. The Scriptural support provided for each section is to be understood in its broader context
and also as representative of the vast biblical material that could be presented as grounds for our beliefs.

The Love of God
We believe our God is known for his relentless love for his creation and especially for the souls of men and women and boys and girls. It was this love that moved him to extend redeeming, forgiving grace to all humanity through the person and work of Jesus Christ. We believe that everyone – regardless of their past – can be forgiven and accepted before Almighty God, and adopted into his eternal family through sincere repentance from sin, and trust in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 86:15; Ps. 136:26; John 3:16-18; Ephesians 2:4-7; 1 John 3:1

Creation
We believe our world was created by God, is separate from God, and reflects the glory of God, even in its fallen state. We believe humanity was created to image the Creator and represent him as rulers and caretakers of his world. As God’s new creation, Christ-followers are privileged to care for our environment in a way that testifies to the watching world of God’s redemptive plan that one day will result in new heavens and a new earth. Until then, we believe we have a responsibility to God to care for creation in a way that is honoring to our Creator and beneficial for our neighbors.
Psalm 19:1; Genesis 1:26,27; 2:15; James 3:8,9; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 8:18-23; 2 Peter 3:11-13

Humanity
We believe mankind descended from Adam and Eve who were specially and uniquely created and intentionally designed as male and female to bear his image as the crowning work of creation. As such, all human life is sacred and worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-28; James 3:8,9; Psalm 104:10-15, 27-31; Genesis 9:5,6; Exodus 20:13; Psalm 8

Sanctity of Life
We believe human life begins at the moment of conception and continues until God’s predetermined number of days for that life are completed. Consequently, we are opposed to in vitro and in vivo abortion, and all forms of euthanasia.
Genesis 2:7; Deuteronomy 30: 19; Psalm 139:13-16; Job 30:23; Ecclesiastes 7:14; 8:8; 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54-56; Hebrews 2:9, 14,15; Revelation 21:4

Gender
Since we believe mankind is specifically designed as male and female, we stand opposed to intentional actions that would alter or disguise one’s gender.
Genesis 1:26-28, 31; 2:25; Deuteronomy 22:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10

Marriage
We believe God ordained marriage to be a covenantal, legal, and lifelong relationship between one man and one woman, as described and prescribed in the Bible.
Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-9; Romans 1:21-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 7:1-4; 1 Timothy 1:8-11

Human Sexuality
We believe human sexuality is a natural and honorable part of God's creation and that marriage between one man and one woman is the only context in which sexual relations are God-honoring. All sexual activity outside of marriage, as defined above, is forbidden by God. Additionally, pornography, including all forms of literature, photography, art, movies and songs intended to stimulate illicit sexual thoughts or actions, should have no place in the lives of Christ-followers.
Genesis 4:1; Matthew 15:19; 1 Corinthians 6:15-18; 7:1-4; Hebrews 13:4; Matthew 5:27, 28